Platen for multiplex typewriter or similar devices

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a cylindrical platen for a multiplex typewriter or similar device wherein several typing keyboards are mounted on a stationary table around a vertically movable and rotatable common cylindrical platen, this platen sliding over a stationary column, being movable vertically by a group of mechanical means driven by step motor drive, and being rotatable by another group of mechanical means driven by separate step motor drive. These drives are operated by a computer activated by any one of nine program selector devices each actuating selectively a ball type lettering head (in the case of keyboards equipped with such heads), or actuating normally a set of keys (in the case of keyboards equipped with keys). Such a platen is particularly suitable for use in a multiplex typewriter for lettering technical drawings in Standard Technical Style and sizes as fixed by The National Standards for Lettering Technical Drawings using a new method whereby any &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;National Standard Alphabet and Numerals for Lettering Technical Drawings&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; may be used on typing element faces. The multiplex typewriter and method of its use permit lettering drawings by typing, and having the following possibilities: 1) All standard sizes of technical drawings can be accommodated by the machine, 2) A single machine can use as many as nine different standard sizes of given national standard alphabet and numerals.

[ 1 Dec. 3, 1974 ABSTRACT The invention provides a cylindrical platen for a multibeing movable vertically by a group of mechanical means driven by step motor drive, and being rotatable by another group of mechanical means plex typewriter or similar device wherein several typing keyboards are mounted on a stationary table around a vertically movable and rotatable common cylindrical platen, this platen sliding over a stationary column driven by separate step motor drive. These drives are operated by a computer activated by any one of nine program selector devices each actuating selectively a ball type lettering head (in the case of keyboards equipped with such heads), or actuating normally a set of keys (inthe case of keyboards equipped with keys). Such a platen is particularly suitable for use in a multi plex typewriter for lettering technical drawings in Standard Technical Style and sizes as fixed by The National Standards for Lettering Technical Drawings using a new method whereby any National Standard Alphabet and Numerals for Lettering Technical Drawings may be used on typing element faces. The multiplex typewriter and method of its use permit lettering PLATEN FOR MULTIPLEX TYPEWRITER OR SIMILAR DEVICES Inventors: Borislav S. Ivanov; Raina V.

Ivanova, both of PO. Box 145, Stn. D, Toronto, Ontario, M6P 3J5, Canada Filed: Dec. 26, 1973 Appl. No.: 428,223

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 383,633, July 30, 1973, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 217,442, Jan. 13, 1972, abandoned.

U.S. 197/144, 197/12, 197/16, 197/146 Int. B41j 11/02 Field of Search.............................. 197/13, 12, 197/16, 18, 19, 20, 52, 144, 146, 62-66 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ilnite Sttes Ivanov et al.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures via/l villi: I

drawings by typing, and having the following possibilities: l All standard sizes of technical drawings can be accommodated by the machine, 2) A single machine can use as many as nine different standard sizes of given national standard alphabet and numerals l97/l6X Nicholson, Jr....... Burgess................

Beckingetal. Frank et al. Kolpekv.................... Brewnan, Jr. et

4 67 723 782770 ,1 ,3 70003770 oo ooooll G za 347 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerE. H. Eickholt PLATEN FOR MULTIPLEX TYPEWRITER OR SIMILAR DEVICES This application is a division of our application Ser. No. 383,633, filed July 30, 1973, which is a continuation-in-part of our application Ser. No. 2l7,442, filed Jan. 13, 1972, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Ser. No. 383,633

REVIEW OF THE PRIOR ART The efforts made hitherto to create a machine for lettering drawings have not given positive results, and in all drafting rooms with which we are acquainted the only method employed is manual lettering. Technical students and draftsmen all over the world are keeping manually to their own national standard, often using special templates and guides to improve the lettering.

DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION in accordance with the present invention there is provided a platen for use in a multiplex typewriter or similar device comprising a cylindrical platen mounted on .a tubular vertical stationary column and having first longitudinal and second rotative sliding movements about its own logitudinal cylindrical axis, first step motor and mechanical means for moving the platen in the first direction in drive mode and step mode variants, second step motor and mechanical means for moving the platen in the second direction also in drive mode and step mode variants, and means for adjusting the extent of movements of the platen upon a single operation of each step motor means to change the corresponding letter and line spacing of typing by a selected typing mechanism of an associated typewriter or similar device. It is thus possible in a multiplex typewriter employing a platen in accordance with the invention to change the letter and line spacing corresponding to the selected standard size of given National Standard A]- phabet and Numerals for Lettering Technical Drawings.

The original and compact construction of the apparatus of this invention allows all National Standard Alphabets and Numerals for Lettering Technical Drawings" to be used for the first time on typing element faces, in associated multiplex typewriter or similar device bringing excellent quality, high speed and lower cost, and fully meeting the requirements of microreproduction by providing optically perfect letter production and spacing. The same typewriter can be manufactured for different countries with only differences in the letters etc. provided on the typing element faces, according to their own language and National Standard Alphabet for Lettering Technical Drawings.

It has been observed that in the case of typing mechanism keyboards equipped with replaceable ball heads,

a conventional mechanism of this type can accommodate a range of three different consecutive type sizes. Thus, each of three keyboard mechanisms may be constructed to carry any one of its three different ball type heads. Accordingly, the nine standard sizes that are generally used in lettering drawings may be provided by use of only three different typing mechanisms of the ball headtype In the apparatus according to the invention such ball head mechanisms are fixed against lateral movement and may therefore be termed a fixed head, the drawing being moved rotatably. Preferably, the cylindrical platen is used in association with three typing mechanisms arrayed around the column' and platen, each of said mechanisms being capable of providing three different sizes of type, all together providing for selectability among nine different type sizes.

In the case of keyboards equipped with the older key mechanisms naturally each keyboard is able to type only one standard size of given national standard alphabet for lettering technical drawings, and the number of the typing mechanisms is larger than with the ball type,

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects of the invention will be appreciated in more detail by reference to particular preferred embodiments illustrated by the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows one standard size of one National Standard Alphabet and Numerals for Lettering Technical Drawings;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a typewriter which is a first embodiment of the invention wherein the typing mechanisms comprise replaceable ball type lettering heads;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken away sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an electrical block diagram of a system for the control of step motor drive mechanisms for the platen of the typewriter of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a typewriter which is a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the typing mechanisms comprise typing keys;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view illustrating a particular position of shiftable keyboard usable in connection with the apparatus of FIG. 5, when in condition for typing small letters; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view illustrating a particular position of the shiftable keyboard shown in FIG. 6, when in condition for typing capital letters.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The typewriter 10 illustrated by the drawings comprises a base 11 having a vertical tubular column 12 mounted centrally thereon, the column carrying a common cylindrical platen 13 of the invention supported radially by sliding flanges 14 and axially by axial bearings l5 and 22 and respectively by outer rings 16 and 23. Tubular column 12 has three vertical slots spaced equidistantly at and having extending therethrough two times three tongues 17 and 24 extending radially respectively from two nuts 18 and 25 to connect the outer rings 16 and 23 with said nuts. The nuts are engaged by a threaded drive shaft 19, which is rotatably driven by a step motor drive device 20 mounted on the upper end 2i of column 12. Accordingly the step motor drive when energized will move the shaft 19 and respectively the nuts 28 and 25, and thereby cause the platen to rise or fall to a desired elevation.

- The uppermost position of the platen is shown in broken lines in FIG. 3. A cylindrical housing 26 is solidly connected with base 11 of the column and carries a table 27 supporting three keyboards K K and K surrounding the common platen 13. This housing is coaxial with the platen and forms an annular cross-section space between itself and the platen, in which the drawing on the platen is accommodated and preserved from damage when said platen goes down below the level of the keyboards. A step motor drive device 28 mounted on the outer ring 16 by means of a drive gear 29 engaged with internal gear ring 30 fitted on the platen 13, thereby causing said platen to be at a required rotary position about the common vertical axis of column 12, platen 13, housing 26 and screw-threaded shaft 19.

The above-described array of typing mechanisms K K and K indicated by the common reference 31, are mounted in a circle around the common platen, one in each 120 segment, and each having a conventional typewriter keyboard 32 and a removable typing head 33 with three separate drive program selectors electrically associated with each keyboard 32 in the manner illustrated by FIG. 4. Thus, an electrical power source 35 is connected via a selected one of three on/off switches 36 to activate the required one of the electrical typewriter keyboards 32, each switch 36 also connecting through a respective three-program selector switch 34. The on/off switches 36 and the selector switches 34 are connected to a computer 37 by a multiplex cable line, whereby each of the switches 34 is connected independently to the computer. One only of the switches 34 is activated by the operator at any time and is identified as a program selector switch of any conve-' nient well-known mechanical form. The corresponding program provided by the computer 37 causes the horizontal drive unit 38 to count out a sufficient number of pulses to accomplish a predetermined number of steps of motion of horizontal step motor drive 28. As is well known a step motor operates through a predetermined number of degrees of revolution for a predetermined number of pulses of electrical drive energy supplied thereto. It is to be understood that the horizontal drive device 38 provide in a step mode such pulses according to conventional pulse technology in such number as is determined by computer 37 and the selected program therein upon actuation of a selector key 34 of the particular keyboard and also the capital/small letter size selector 32 of the keyboard. The platen is thus rotated the amount necessary for accurate spacing corresponding to the particular standard size alphabet that has been selected. The drive device may be operated in a drive mode to quickly bring the desired spot for lettering into required position.

The vertical step motor drive 20 is activated by a vertical drive generator 39 controlled by computer 37 according to a preselected program. Thus in the step mode the vertical space key of the selected electric typewriter keyboard will activate the computer through the selected program for the particular ball type head 33 used in association with the particular keyboard to activate the vertical drive 39 and step motor drive 20 to adjust the height of the platen with a programmmed line spacing conforming to the selected alphabet size.

This drive device will also provide a drive mode for quick positioning as with the horizontal drive device. The chain line 40 connecting the switches 36 is introduced to indicate that such switches are so connected that only one may be activated or closed at any one time. Likewise of any group of three switches 34, only one may be selected at any one time. The keyboards K, to K, represent nine different standard sizes alphabet and numerals of given National Standard Alphabet for Lettering Technical Drawings.

In FIG. 5 is represented a plan view of a typewriter embodying the invention and using single size key typing mechanisms, particularly showing a set of six keyboards equipped with typing keys. In this embodiment each single keyboard is equipped completely to type one standard size alphabet and numerals of a given National Standard for Lettering Technical Drawings.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a shiftable keyboard for use in connection with the apparatus of FIG. 5 and the manner in which it can be adjusted to type small letters (FIG. 6) and alternatively to type larger letters (FIG. 7).

Thus the front edge of the keyboard 42 is supported by a pivot pin 45, while the rear edge is supported by an eccentric roller, the keyboard controlling typing keys 43, each of which carries a respective small letter typeface at lower part 44 and a corresponding larger letter typeface at upper part 46, these parts being inclined at a small angle A relative to one another from a flat plane.

FIG. 6 illustrates the fnormal" position for the keyboard wherein the part 44 of the key is in contact with the platen surface, while the part 46 is clear of the platen surface, so that only a small letter can be typed. If large letters are to be typed the roller 41 is rotated, whereupon the whole keyboard is tilted about the pivot pin 45 and the part 46 of each key is now able to contact the platen surface, while the part 44 is clear of the platen surface, so that only the large letter can be typed.

In use the typewriter is activated to move the platen l3 sufficiently above the level of the keyboard 31 to' ac commodate the height of the drawing to be fastened thereon, for example by means of adhesive tape. The operator then places the selected typing head 33 on the typing mechanism 31, at which he is seated on a chair, and presses the appropriate program selector button 34 for such head. Thereupon when the on/off switch 36 of the selected typing mechanism is turned to the on position the operator causes the machine to rotate the platen and the drawing thereon to the desired location relative to the selected typing head 33, indexing the same to the desired location by activating the space bar or space keys of the typing mechanism. The head 33 is fixed in its lateral motion, being capable of moving only in a plane extending radially from the common central axis 47 of the platen 13. The vertical space key of the typing mechanism will then cause the platen to rise or fall to the position desired by the operator, at which point he may begin typing. With each typed impression the computer causes the platen 13 to rotate an increment corresponding to the desired letter spacing determined by the program selector 34 and the predetermined program activated thereby in the computer 37.

We claim:

I. A platen for use in a multiplex typewriter or similar device comprising a cylindrical platen mounted on a tubular vertical stationary column and having first longitudinal and second rotative sliding movements on the column about its own longitudinal axis, a threaded drive shaft within the column, a first step motor and mechanical means connected to the drive shaft for moving the shaft and thereby the platen in the first direction in drive mode and step mode variants, said column having three vertical slots spaced equidistantly at 120 and through which the mechanical means extends the movement of the drive shaft to the platen, a second step motor and mechanical means for moving the platen in the second direction also in drive mode and step mode variants, pulse circuit means feeding pulses to the step motor means and means for adjusting the extent of movements of the platen upon a single operation of each step motor means to change the corresponding letter and line spacing of typing by a selected typing mechanism of an associated tyewriter or similar device.

2. A platen as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said mechanical means for rotative movement comprises an internal gear ring mounted on the said platen and a pinion gear engaged with said ring and operatively connected with the second step motor.

3. A platen for use in a multiplex typewriter or similar device comprising a cylindrical platen mounted on a tubular vertical stationary column and having first longitudinal and second rotative sliding movements on the column about its own longitudinal axis, a threaded drive shaft within the column extending along the said axis, a first step motor and mechanical means connected to the drive shaft for moving the shaft and thereby the platen in the first direction in drive mode and step mode variants, the said mechanical means for longitudinal movement comprising the threaded drive shaft, two nuts engaged with the drive shaft, three tongues extending from each nut and extending the movement of the nut along the drive shaft from inside to outside of the column through respective slots in the column, two sliding flanges to support the platen radially, two axial bearings and two respective outer rings, each flange, axial bearing and respective outer ring cooperating together to connect the respective three tongues and the platen, a second step motor and mechanical means for moving the platen in the second direction also in drive mode and step mode variants,

pulse circuit means feeding pulses to the step motor means and means for adjusting the extent of movements of the platen upon a single operation of each step motor means to change the corresponding letter and line spacing of typing by a selected typing mechanism of an associated typewriter or similar devise.

4. A platen as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said mechanical means for rotative movement comprises an internal gear ring mounted on the said platen and a pinion gear engaged with said ring and operatively con nected with the second step motor.

5. A platen for multiplex typewriter or similar devices comprising: i

a cylindrical platen mounted on a tubular vertical stationary column forlongitudinal and rotative sliding movements about its own axis in respective drive mode and step mode variants, two sliding flanges radially supporting the platen,

a threaded drive shaft extending along said axis, two

nuts engaged with said shaft, three tongues extending from each nut and extending the movement of the nuts along said shaft from inside to outside of the column through three vertical slots on said column spaced equidistantly at two axial bearings, and two outer rings, cooperating together to move the platen longitudinally,

an internal gear ring mounted on said platen and a pinion gear engaged with said ring cooperating together to rotate the platen, and

pulse circuit means feeding pulses to step motor means, and means for adjusting the extent of movements of the platen upon a single operation of the step motor means to change the corresponding letter and line spacing of typing by a selected typing mechanism of an associated typewriter or similar 

1. A platen for use in a multiplex typewriter or similar device comprising a cylindrical platen mounted on a tubular vertical stationary column and having first longitudinal and second rotative sliding movements on the column about its own longitudinal axis, a threaded drive shaft within the column, a first step motor and mechanical means connected to the drive shaft for moving the shaft and thereby the platen in the first direction in drive mode and step mode vAriants, said column having three vertical slots spaced equidistantly at 120* and through which the mechanical means extends the movement of the drive shaft to the platen, a second step motor and mechanical means for moving the platen in the second direction also in drive mode and step mode variants, pulse circuit means feeding pulses to the step motor means and means for adjusting the extent of movements of the platen upon a single operation of each step motor means to change the corresponding letter and line spacing of typing by a selected typing mechanism of an associated tyewriter or similar device.
 2. A platen as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said mechanical means for rotative movement comprises an internal gear ring mounted on the said platen and a pinion gear engaged with said ring and operatively connected with the second step motor.
 3. A platen for use in a multiplex typewriter or similar device comprising a cylindrical platen mounted on a tubular vertical stationary column and having first longitudinal and second rotative sliding movements on the column about its own longitudinal axis, a threaded drive shaft within the column extending along the said axis, a first step motor and mechanical means connected to the drive shaft for moving the shaft and thereby the platen in the first direction in drive mode and step mode variants, the said mechanical means for longitudinal movement comprising the threaded drive shaft, two nuts engaged with the drive shaft, three tongues extending from each nut and extending the movement of the nut along the drive shaft from inside to outside of the column through respective slots in the column, two sliding flanges to support the platen radially, two axial bearings and two respective outer rings, each flange, axial bearing and respective outer ring cooperating together to connect the respective three tongues and the platen, a second step motor and mechanical means for moving the platen in the second direction also in drive mode and step mode variants, pulse circuit means feeding pulses to the step motor means and means for adjusting the extent of movements of the platen upon a single operation of each step motor means to change the corresponding letter and line spacing of typing by a selected typing mechanism of an associated typewriter or similar devise.
 4. A platen as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said mechanical means for rotative movement comprises an internal gear ring mounted on the said platen and a pinion gear engaged with said ring and operatively connected with the second step motor.
 5. A platen for multiplex typewriter or similar devices comprising: a cylindrical platen mounted on a tubular vertical stationary column for longitudinal and rotative sliding movements about its own axis in respective drive mode and step mode variants, two sliding flanges radially supporting the platen, a threaded drive shaft extending along said axis, two nuts engaged with said shaft, three tongues extending from each nut and extending the movement of the nuts along said shaft from inside to outside of the column through three vertical slots on said column spaced equidistantly at 120*, two axial bearings, and two outer rings, cooperating together to move the platen longitudinally, an internal gear ring mounted on said platen and a pinion gear engaged with said ring cooperating together to rotate the platen, and pulse circuit means feeding pulses to step motor means, and means for adjusting the extent of movements of the platen upon a single operation of the step motor means to change the corresponding letter and line spacing of typing by a selected typing mechanism of an associated typewriter or similar devices. 